Americhem Unveils Its 2016-2017 Color Trends

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Sept. 17, 2015 — Americhem Inc. — a producer of color and additive solutions for polymeric products — has released its 2016–2017 Color Trends comprised of six color palettes including: Rush Hour, Office Diligence, Casual Friday, Night Life, Welcome Distraction and Sunday Brunch. The color families were announced on September 10, at Americhem’s annual color trends course as part of Americhem U, an ongoing educational series for professionals in the synthetic fibers and plastics industries. This is the company’s seventh annual color trends forecast.

The color families, developed by a committee of color trend specialists, are forecasted to be popular in the coming years based on global influences, pop culture, design trends, technology and fashion-forward color predictions. In conjunction with a fashion design house in Milan, Italy, the groups of colors, in addition to textures, finishes and effects, are translated into seasonal design concepts, moods and lifestyles, each with a unique story to convey the emotions and context of the colors.

This year’s color families revolve around a common theme—a week in our everyday life.

  • Rush Hour — a bold palette highlighting abrupt chaotic reds with deep dark browns representing the hustle and bustle of a city going to work.
  • Office Diligence — neutral and dark, warm and traditional tones mixed with teals and bursts of color to represent an office environment that is making its way into the world around us.
  • Casual Friday — bright colors and achromatic hues remind us of the relaxed atmosphere that comes with the end of the work week.
  • Night Life — the dark, romantic accents of a candlelight dinner are blended with brushes of the night sky to symbolize the excitement of the week’s end.
  • Welcome Distraction — the freedom of the weekend is represented with bright colors that can be seen in street fairs, carnivals or a soothing afternoon in your garden.
  • Sunday Brunch — calming pastels represent the beginning of a relaxing day featuring softening “under the radar” colors that conclude the weekend.

“These colors will be at the forefront of product design and, therefore, at the leading edge of consumer preferences in the years to come,” stated Aubrey Barto, lead color trends specialist for Americhem. “They are appropriate for any industry interested in accenting their products with innovative and modern colors.”

Posted September 23, 2015

Source: Americhem
 

Global Textile Industry Gearing Up For ITMA

Will Chinese currency devaluation influence the success of the upcoming ITMA 2015?

By Jurg Rupp, Executive Editor

ITMA 2015 will be held November 12-19 at the Fiera Milano Rho fairgrounds in Milan, Italy. Milan hosts ITMA for the fifth time since its inception at the now 17th edition of the show. ITMA is owned by CEMATEX, and is organized in 2015 by Singapore-based MP Expositions Pte. Ltd.

For the first time in its history, ITMA will take place in November, because from May 1-October 31, 2015, the 2015 Milan Universal Exposition, or World’s Fair, takes place at the same newly built fairground.

Fiera Milano Rho is one of the largest fairgrounds in the world, spanning 345,000 square meters (m2) of covered gross exhibition space. The venue is well equipped with 10 conference rooms and a host of restaurants, bars and coffee houses. Fiera Milano Rho is located in the west of Milan and connected to the city centre via a metro station, Rho Fiera. It is also served by railway and there are 14,000 parking spaces for visitors.

Show organizers announced back in 2014 that more than 95 percent of the 200,000 m2 of floor space already was booked by exhibitors. “Global textile and garment technology suppliers have snapped up space at next year’s ITMA exhibition in Milan,” reported CEMATEX. “ITMA 2015 … has attracted over 1,300 applicants from 43 countries by the application deadline of July 4.” Since then, the remaining exhibit space has been booked, and ITMA 2015 is presumed to be sold out despite rumblings from the industry that an ITMA in Europe doesn’t make sense anymore. This viewpoint springs from growing importance of the Asian textile market. But things are changing.

Economic Uncertainties
As of Textile World’s press time, bad news about the economy in China and the growth rate of its gross domestic product is a hot topic of conversation around the world. Will China’s economic woes influence the show in Milan? Of course, nobody knows yet.

Some governments estimated the growth of the Chinese economy in the first quarter of 2015 to be “only” 7 percent; indeed proof of a solid economy. In this figure, the growth of energy intensive and polluting products decreased, while services increased and are today the driving force of the Chinese economy. Also, the domestic market is growing. Domestic retail trade grew over the past year by 10.8 percent, not forgetting Internet sales — this sector increased by more than 40 percent in China.

Labor and energy costs influence the Chinese market heavily. However, thanks to its sheer size, China is still the most important global market. Some Chinese manufacturers already have reacted to changing conditions, and now invest heavily in foreign countries to get cheaper labor costs and stay competitive on the global markets. It is well known that China is by far the largest man-made fiber producer in the world, and there are plans to add capacity. Also, there are still many million tons of cotton in stock.

Italy The Biggest Exhibitor Country
Some 30 percent of the total exhibition space at this year’s ITMA has been reserved by machinery manufacturers from Italy. In numbers, 430 companies will occupy 31,000 m2 of space. According to the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), textile machinery sales in 2014 were totalled 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion), with exports accounting for around 1.94 million euros ($2.1 million). Exports to Asia amounted to 41 percent in 2014 and those to Europe totaled 40 percent, with a further 16 percent sold within Italy itself. In the first three months of 2015, sales of Italian machinery within Europe increased by 9 percent, with those to France up 29 percent, those to Germany up 23 percent and those to Portugal up by 100 percent.

Exports of textile machinery represent 84 percent, going to some 130 countries. In the first quarter of 2015, Italian exports of textile machines was divided as follows: Asia, with 42 percent; Europe, with 41 percent; Latin America, with 7 percent; North America, with 5 percent; and Africa, with 5 percent. During the same period, the biggest contribution to Italian exports of textile machinery came from China, valued at 58 million euros ($65 million). China is followed by Turkey with 47 million euros ($53 million), Bangladesh with 31 million euros ($35 million) and India with 25 million euros ($28 million).

While China remains the biggest destination for Italian machines, exports to the country fell by 25 percent in 2014, and dropped by a further 14 percent in the first three months of 2015. A full recovery in exports to China, however, is anticipated for the remainder of 2015.

Associated, Collocated Events
In more recent editions, ITMA has hosted collocated events including seminars and conferences. The list of events includes the Textile Colourant & Chemical Leaders Forum and the Nonwovens Forum at ITMA (See Table 1).


Table 1

According to the organizers, the Textile Colourant & Chemical Leaders Forum will help attendees “learn about sustainability in dyeing and finishing processes from international experts.” A wide range of topics and issues will be covered in three sessions:

  • The Issues: Chemical pollution and environmental concerns and the impact on the marketplace.
  • The Solutions: How does the supply chain respond?
  • The Future: What are the trends and game changers?

Specific presentations will cover the chemical and colorant suppliers’ response to current environmental issues, updates on REACH regulation, and new dyeing and printing technologies and their impact on a more sustainable supply chain. The event will be held on November 14 at the Stella Polare Convention Centre, Fiera Milano Rho in the Sagittarius Room.

Nonwovens more and more form an important part of global textile production. Recognizing that, ITMA organizers have added a Nonwovens Forum to the ITMA conference schedule. The event will be co-organized by The International Association for the Nonwovens and Related Industries, Belgium, and MP Expositions. The forum will be held all day November 16 at the Stella Polare Convention Centre, Fiera Milano Rho, Sagittarius Room.

The program will benefit ITMA visitors who are involved in, or have the intention to move into nonwovens manufacturing. The theme for the forum is, “Nonwovens: A World of Growth and Opportunities.” Interested parties can find out directly from industry leaders in nonwoven manufacturing how one can grab opportunities in the rapidly evolving world of nonwovens. The forum will be broken into two main sessions.

  • Session 1: Applications and Technologies for Nonwovens — Lecturers include speakers from Andritz Nonwoven, DiloGroup and Oerlikon Neumag.
  • Session 2: Added Value Ingredients and Finishing for Nonwovens — Lecturers include speakers from CHT R. Beitlich and Pulcra Chemicals.

In addition, Jacques Prigneaux, market analysis and economic affairs director, EDANA, will give a lecture entitled, “The Nonwovens Industry and Markets in Numbers.”

It will be interesting to see if the blend of Italianità, approximately 1,400 exhibitors, news from the Chinese economy and the collection of events will be a successful mix for the global textile machinery industry.
Textile Industries Media Group will be at the show and is more than happy to welcome readers of Textile World, Textiles Panamericanos and Textile World Asia to its booth in Hall 7, Booth F-109. Ci vediamo in Milano!

September/October 2015

Yarn Market: Production Continues To Expand

By Jim Phillips, Yarn Market Editor

With the demand for U.S.-produced fiber and yarn increasing, the industry is finally poised to grow again, after some four decades of decline.

It has been previously reported that several new yarn plants are under construction, and now DAK Americas has announced a significant increase in fiber capacity. The company recently reported: “… an increase in its polyester staple fiber (PSF) capacity of 230 million pounds per year to meet growing demand in the Americas. The new fiber capacity will be installed at DAK’s Pearl River site in Bay St. Louis, MS, with a project start-up in the second half of 2016.”

According to DAK, the project will create 86 new jobs, including “positions in operations, maintenance, technical and management.” DAK recently completed a PSF expansion at its Charleston facility, adding 27 million pounds per year of PSF capacity.

From 1997 until 2009, some 650 textile plants closed. “We finally got to the point a couple of years ago where we reached the equilibrium point,” said one industry observer. “We had reduced spindles to the point that our capacity roughly matched demand. Now, however, as more programs are beginning to move back, we are finding that we have too little capacity in some sectors.” In recent times, for example, companies in Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai, Great Britain, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Switzerland, as well as in the United States, have announced plans to open or expand textile plants in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

“The industry has been poised for growth for some time,” said one industry executive. “The key was for us to get off the roller coaster. We had such a long time where we would have great years followed by dreadful years. What we needed was just a period of long-term stability so that we could accurately assess what the real demand was. Providing something unexpected doesn’t derail this progress — and providing our government doesn’t give away the store in trade agreements — I think you will see a period of slow, but steady, growth in the U.S. industry.

Orders Expected To Stay Strong
A sustained period of stability is just what the industry has experienced for almost three years.

And that continues into the closing months of 2015. Ring-spun yarns are in high demand, as are a variety of polyester, blended and open-end yarns.

“It looks like the fourth quarter is going to be strong,” said one spinner. “We are in the middle of a very good run, and I just hope it continues.”

“If you don’t have your positions in ring spun, good luck to you,” said one yarn broker. “It is hard to come by, especially for smaller customers. And if you do find it, you are going to pay a premium.”

Cotton Remains In Low 60s
Part of the reason for the stability of the industry is that cotton prices have stabilized, hovering between 60 and 65 cents for some time. “Customers are confident at the moment that what they are buying will maintain its value,” said one observer. “It wasn’t that long ago that many customers were burned by buying product with very expensive cotton and then being unable to recoup their investment when the bottom fell out of the market.”

As of August 28, spot cotton quotations for the base quality of cotton —color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, uniformity 81.0-81.9 — in the seven designated markets measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture averaged 61.30 cents per pound, down from 64.11 cents the previous week and 67.04 cents reported the corresponding period a year ago. Daily average quotations ranged from a high of 64.17 cents August 21, to a low of 59.61 cents August 26. Spot transactions reported in the Daily Spot Cotton Quotations for the week ended August 27 totaled 2,725 bales. This compares to 5,645 bales reported the previous week and 13,668 spot transactions reported the corresponding week a year ago. Total spot transactions for the season were 17,776 bales compared to 21,046 bales the corresponding week a year ago. The ICE October settlement prices ended the week at 63.83 cents, compared to 67.66 cents
the previous week.

September/October 2015

People

Switzerland-based Sanitized AG recently established Sanitized (USA) Inc., a new U.S. headquarters located in Charlotte, and named Scott Rosenzweig president.


Rosenzweig

The Netherlands-based DSM Dyneema has appointed Golnar Motahari Pour president.

Bill Blackstock was appointed corporate vice president for sales strategy for J+J Flooring Group, Dalton, Ga.

The Hong Kong-based strategic innovations research and development facility for Alvanon Inc. has promoted Kevin Campbell to chief technology officer and hired senior software developer Felix Lau.

Stephen Kerns was appointed president of Seattle-based Schoeller Textil USA, a subsidiary of Schoeller Textil AG, Switzerland.

Dr. Jennifer Seifert has joined TissueGen® Inc., Dallas, as senior scientist, and will lead the company’s spinal cord injury repair program.

Finland-based Ahlstrom Corp. has named Satu Perälampi vice president, communications.

Lance deJong has joined the sales team at Miller Weldmaster, Navarre, Ohio.


de Jong

Mount Holly, N.C.-based America & Efird LLC (A&E) has appointed Les Miller CEO following the recent retirement of Fred Jackson. Jackson will continue with A&E as non-executive chairman of the board.

Salt Lake City-based WWA Advisors LLC has partnered with Despina Papadopoulos to offer its clients expertise in the wearable technology sector.

E. Smyth McKissick III was elected chairman of the Clemson University Board of Trustees, Clemson, S.C.

Germany-based Autefa Solutions Germany GmbH has named Christian Egger CEO.

BondCote Corp. — a Heytex Group company based in Pulaski, Va. — has named James Doherty Southwest regional sales manager.

September/October 2015

Huntsman, Pantone Collaborate On Dye Palette

Singapore-based Huntsman Textile Effects has released 210 new dye formulations that were developed with input from Carlstadt, N.J.-based Pantone Inc. The new colors are based on Huntsman’s Avitera® SE reactive dyes, and extend the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System®. According to Huntsman, the new formulations help designers and brands choose on-trend colors that also meet performance requirements and address environmental concerns. The 210 colors include pale, medium, dark, intense dark and brilliant shades, as well as deep black.

September/October 2015

Shaw Invests In Polyester, Nylon Production

Dalton, Ga.-based Shaw Industries Group Inc. reports it will invest a minimum of $45 million in its Lexington County, S.C., carpet fiber plant to add capacity for both polyester and nylon fiber. Shaw acquired the facility, which employs 290 people, from Honeywell International Inc. in 2005. The capacity increase will add 50 jobs.

The new polyester extrusion equipment to be installed during the fourth quarter of 2015 in Lexington County will process recycled plastic beverage bottles. Shaw currently recycles some 3 billion bottles annually at its joint-venture Clear Path Recycling facility in Fayetteville, N.C., and looks to expand its use of recycled materials, which are used in Shaw’s ClearTouch® residential carpet products.

“By continuing to invest in our people, processes and products, Shaw is able to provide a diverse  product mix, innovative design, and the greatest quality and service to our customers,” said Vance Bell, chairman and CEO, Shaw.

“This $45 million investment and plans to create more than 50 new jobs is terrific news for our manufacturing industry, Lexington County and our state as a whole,“ said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. “We look forward to watching Shaw continue to grow here in South Carolina and around the world for many years to come.”

September/October 2015

Epson Launches New SureColor® F-Series Models

Long Beach, Calif.-based Epson America Inc. has introduced the next-generation SureColor® F-Series dye-sublimation transfer printers. There are three new models in the series — the 44-inch-wide Epson® SureColor F6200, and the 64-inch-wide F7200 and F9200 models.

All three printers utilize Epson UltraChrome® DS ink including the new high-density black ink for improved black density and ink efficiency.

The F9200 model also features dual Epson PrecisionCore® TFP® printheads, which offer high-speed, superior dot control and repeatable performance, among other features, according to the company.

September/October 2015

Invista, Aurizon Collaborate; NSA Acquires Tecgen® Brand

Invista, Wichita, Kan., will work with Aurizon Ultrasonics, Kimberly, Wis., to develop unique ultrasonic bonding equipment and novel stretch fibers for stretch laminates used in hygiene applications. The goal of the joint project is to improve the fit and comfort of hygiene products such as diapers by producing laminates without using hot melt elastic adhesives.

“Invista is excited to explore the combination of Aurizon’s cutting edge capabilities in ultrasonic bonding with our market leading research and development team that has delivered continuous innovations to our Lycra HyFit® offering,” said Scott Blackadar, global vice president, Invista.

In other company news, Invista Ashburn Hill LLC sold its Tecgen® brand of safety apparel to Cleveland-based National Safety Apparel (NSA). “The timing was good for National Safety Apparel to acquire the Tecgen brand assets,” said Anthony Green, global business director of FR Apparel, Invista. “Invista will continue to focus our capabilities on developing innovative technology based solutions for workwear, military and consumer applications where performance and protection create value for our customers.”

September/October 2015

Sawgrass Industrial Joins JK Group

Charleston, S.C.-based Sawgrass Group has sold Sawgrass Industrial — its industrial application sublimation and pigment inks division — to the Italy-based JK Group, which comprises Kiian Digital and J-Teck3. Sawgrass Industrial offers its portfolio of products, including SubliM and M-inks, mainly to customers in Europe and the Americas.

“Following the combination of Kiian Digital and J-Teck3 last year, the addition of Sawgrass Industrial takes the JK Group into a global leadership position in the digital sublimation sector and at the forefront of the textile pigment inks market development,” said Dennis Wilby, president, JK Group.

“Now that digital mass production is a reality for printing onto textiles, this is a perfect time to form a strong alliance to deliver on what was just a dream,” said Nathan Hale, CEO and founder, Sawgrass.

September/October 2015

Alexium Reports Sales

Australia-based Alexium International Group Ltd. reports Greenwood Mills Inc., Greenwood, S.C. — a manufacturer of woven goods including flame retardant (FR) finished fabrics — has selected its Alexiflam™ halogen-free FR treatment. Alexium anticipates an initial delivery in the third quarter of 2015 will be followed by ongoing deliveries of the FR treatment.

Alexium also will provide FR chemistry to Central Falls, R.I.-based Murdock Webbing Co., which will initially use the formulations for its FR stretch-webbing products. Alexium hopes Murdock also will extend use of the treatment into its rigid webbing products line.

September/October 2015

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